Introduction
Making the Journey is about arts activities and people with
disabilities. It offers 12 case studies as examples of approaches, issues
and achievements in the Australian field of art and disability in recent
years.
Access to the arts and other aspects of society are human rights for
people with disabilities. Direct participation in and increased access
to the arts also contributes to the wellbeing of people with a disability,
their carers, families, friends and communities.
The case studies in this book show initiatives from the arts, health and
education sectors and responses by cultural organisations that remove
barriers to participation. A theme across all of the examples is the leadership
of artists, audience members and advocates with a disability.
We hope these examples will stimulate discussion amongst a general readership
as well as practitioners. We also hope that they will provide inspiration
for change as well as practical suggestions for it.
Arts Access Australia is a national body that brings together a network
of arts and disability organisations around Australia. Together they work
to increase access to the arts for the one in five Australians with a
disability. One way in which they do this is to assist cultural organisations
meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. The Act
requires businesses and organisations to make their goods, services and
premises accessible for people with a disability. In the process a diverse
range of inclusive arts projects have found support and been encouraged
to expand.
In Making the Journey, we wanted to celebrate these achievements
and use these examples to encourage ideas for including people with disabilities
in arts activities, while also encouraging people with disabilities to
develop and run their own arts activities. Making the Journey was specifically
prompted by a desire to promote success stories and the many developments
that have taken place in the lives of people with disabilities in the
last 25 years. While recognising what is good we also wanted to point
the way forward for further change.
The organisations discussed here represent just a sample of the projects
and people who are ‘making the journey’ to widen perceptions
of art and open it out to people who have traditionally been excluded
from its practice.
STRUCTURE OF THE BOOK
The case studies have been drawn from both large and small organisations,
and cover metropolitan and regional areas in all Australian states and
territories. The map on pages 6 and 7 highlights the diversity of these
locations throughout Australia.
The case studies are divided into three sections. Each section highlights
a different aspect of the work being done by these organisations.
- Section 1: Opening Doors
The organisations in this section open the door to arts activities in
a variety of ways. They have been active in creating accessible venues
(Adelaide Festival Centre), encouraging local authorities’ support
for integrated arts initiatives (Open Art ACT), developing arts programs
in a community health context (Northern Exposure) and providing training
for employment in the arts (Ignition Theatre Training and Display Workshop).
- Section 2: Making a Difference
This section looks at some specific initiatives which make a practical
and obvious difference to the lives of people with a disability and
to the understanding of the general population. These programs —
the Mwerre Anthurre art studio, Launceston’s Arts Roar, the EASE
ticketing service, and the ‘International Day’ activities
in Nymagee and at the Bunker Cartoon Gallery — bring the artistic
skills of people with a disability to public attention, generate income,
take creative and practical approaches to participation, and build community
and business relationships.
- Section 3: Make it New
This section’s case studies offer examples of artwork
created by — and for — people with a disability. One of
the key elements in these works is the way the worlds of people with
a disability stretch traditional understandings of art by creating new
and specific forms. Back to Back Theatre, the Restless Dance Company
and the Tutti Ensemble all take an integrated approach to performing
a range of artistic works, while the Pinnacles Gallery has facilitated
exhibitions by and for people with a disability, particularly opening
out the experience to people with a vision impairment.
Further information on all the subject areas covered in the case studies
can be found in the contacts and resources listed at the back. This section
also includes local and international disability resources, plus information
about approaches to disability action plans and legal definitions.
MAKING THE BOOK
This book has offered us the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding
of the passion people with disability have for the arts, and it was great
to uncover so many strong stories — including the many that didn’t
make the final book. The strength and innovation found in work happening
in regional and remote Australia away from the glare of capital cities
made a particularly strong impression.
If the book has a strength, it is in these stories. We both hope you enjoy
reading them as much as we enjoyed bringing them to you.
Gareth Wreford
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
ARTS ACCESS AUSTRALIA
Mary Hutchison
WRITER
THE AIMS OF ARTS ACCESS AUSTRALIA
There are many emerging trends and areas that Arts Access Australia is
committed to developing. In particular we are responding to a strong desire
for arts development by people with disabilities, and the creation of
disability-led arts organisations where the Board, paid staff and participants
are people with disabilities. A greater critical mass of art being produced
by people with disabilities will be in a stronger position to gain exposure
through touring and mainstream presentation. The other significant trend
affecting the arts generally is the ageing population, which will drive
up demand for the provision of access services.
Our main goals as an organisation over the five years to 2010 are to:
- promote arts development and leadership by people with disabilities
- promote achievement and exchange in the arts, both nationally and
internationally
- develop a ‘one-stop shop’ website for all aspects of
arts and disability
- develop practical resources to support arts workers and organisations
to work with people with disabilities
- support initiatives involving older Australians and the arts, as
disability
and age are closely linked
- support initiatives involving Indigenous Australians and the arts
to include Indigenous understandings of disability and wellbeing
- increase the low rates of social participation, vocational education
and employment for people with disabilities in cultural activities.
Please note: Throughout the book we have used inclusive
and ‘people first’ language, including ‘person with
a disability’, as this is generally the preferred term in Australia.
Acknowledgments
The process of writing a book is never simple. Making the Journey
has had many hands shape it and they all deserve thanks.
Central to this process are the organisations, people and artists featured
in the book who provided interviews, images and clarified endless queries
about what they do and why.
The people who worked on the publication and deserve much credit for
its final shape are Mary Hutchison (writer), Emma Driver (editing and
production management), Suzanne Boccalatte and David Balletti Collins
of Boccalatte Design, Brian Baker at Lamb printing, Melinda Collie-Holmes
(project coordination), Stella Young (proofreading) and Jan Teagle Kapetas
(co-writing the Northern Exposure case study).
In addition, the Board of Arts Access Australia, in particular the Chairs
Jayne Boase, Nicole Beyer, David Doyle and Val Shiel, and previous staff
Carey Lai and Claire Havey, all played a part in bringing the book from
an idea to publication and launch.
Lastly, thank you to the funding bodies — the Australia Council
for the Arts and the Department of Family and Community Services who have
supported our work and brought this book to you.
Map of locations
Click here to see a map of locations.
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